matt October 2nd, 2008

Pumpkin season is now closed. Thanks to everyone who came out to join us this year, it’s been a pleasure having you. Please enjoy some photos of the farm.

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matt October 2nd, 2008

What a Summer!  It feels like the entire Roloff clan has been running hard in every possible direction these past few months.

The thousands of miles of travel has been fun and rewarding and we have created memories that will last a lifetime - but it sure feels great to have my feet firmly planted at the farm again.

Many of you have asked why we travel so much - but even before the show, Little People Big World, the emphasis on the “Big World” has definitely expanded our horizons.  Wait until you see our new season of episodes starting October 13th…  they’re my favorite so far!

Fall seems to have arrived, and with it a shifting of our family back to a more familiar and hopefully, more laid-back schedule.  But…not until we get through our most exciting (& stressful) time of year “Pumpkin Season”!

Pumpkin Season is the one time of year that we are blessed to be able to share our farm and home with you.  With the growing number of visitors it was obvious that we needed to expand our hours and days of operation.

We open for business on Saturday, September 27, and thereafter, Roloff Farms will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00pm.  We will close for the season on Sunday, October 26, 2008.

As usual we have added new attractions this year that are sure to keep things exciting for everyone!

Sven has been working feverishly to complete “The Pumpkin Family Funhouse”.  I don’t want to give away too much… but Sven has created the perfect home environment for a family of pumpkins!  Trust me, Seven is a mad artistic genius and everybody is going to love it!

To keep me from micro-managing Sven, I decided to keep myself busy building a new bridge.

As things often go - my idea of a small bridge quickly expanded from its original design and was suddenly a structure to beat all structures!  I’m soooooo proud of this bridge and I can’t wait to show it off!  (Maybe we will poll our visitors to see which attraction was their favorite)?

Our long lines from last year just had to be fixed.  We have doubled our tour capacity - going from three tour wagons we had last year to as many as eight this year.

But…enough about pumpkins!

It’s hard to believe that Zach and Jeremy have begun their senior year of high school.  I wonder how long it will be before it sets in that they will soon be graduating and moving on to a new phase of their life.

It is amazing how much they have grown and also how fast the time has gone.  It is a cliche, but it seems like only yesterday that they were babies.  Amy and I are starting to accept that our boys may soon be leaving the nest…or maybe not! 

Molly is a smart, poised articulate, A+ student.  She is truly my pride and joy.

Molly just took the test to get her driver’s permit.  I’ll reserve the details of that for a future episode (but did I mention she is a straight A student)?

I am bracing myself for the day when a young man knocks on the door to take her out to the movies or dinner, or wherever kids go out these days.  I don’t know exactly how I will react or what I will say, but I wouldn’t want to be the kid on the hot seat when that day comes.

Jacob is now in middle school!  He keeps busy playing soccer and doesn’t seem to be in a big hurry to grow up.

The highlight of Jacob’s summer was the week he spent in Space Camp in Alabama.  He’s always loved astronomy, space and NASA; and his time at Space Camp seems to confirm that it is not just a passing fad for him.

His greatest passion this summer was spending as much time as he possibly could in our swimming pool.  I’ve never seen anybody spend more time in the water than Jacob and I enjoyed our many warm summer night swims together.

Amy continues to schedule and book speeches and public appearances and is loving every minute of it.

For many years, I traveled endlessly, and Amy stayed home with the kids.
Now, more than ever, Amy enjoys getting out there and exploring the world.  She is especially fond of small town middle America, and always returns to the farm with great stories of the places she has seen and the wonderful people she has met.

I realize more than ever how much I love our farm.  Most of my time these days is gearing up for pumpkin season, and considerable energy is being given to re-organizing D.A.S. to ensure the companies on-going success and expansion into new markets.

Recently I was contacted by a friend of mine serving in the military.  He had run across an Iraqi family with three children with dwarfism (similar to mine) who were in desperate need of medical care.

This amazing story will be highlighted on the season opener of Little People, Big World airing on TLC on Monday,  October 13th, 2008.  Don’t miss it!

The opportunities “Little People, Big World” has given my family cannot be overstated.  Four years ago, we started out making a show that was primarily about our family’s life on our small farm in Oregon.  And although the majority of our episodes still revolve around our day-to day life - I think it is a testament to the power of television that we are able to engage in good works that can change lives.

Warmest regards to you and yours,
Matt

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matt July 8th, 2008

Happy belated Independence Day and summer greetings from Roloff Farms!

First and foremost, we would like to express our deep, heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming response to the sudden passing of our dear friend, Mike Detjen.  We received over 3,000 emails and letters of condolences.  Messages of sympathy and support poured in from every corner of the globe.

Mike’s family would like to extend a personal thank you as well for your kind and comforting words.

While we all continue to grieve and deal with Mike’s palpable absence around the farm, please know what a large role your responses have played in helping us through the grieving process as we remember and relive the many fond memories we have of Mike.  Roloff Farms will never be quite the same without his kind demeanor, dry sense of humor, and engineer’s approach to problem solving.

We have been out of town with limited phone and internet access, but thought often about the need to send out this update and let everyone know how much your support and condolences mean to the family.

The entire Roloff family recently had the opportunity to spend time together on some exciting summer travels.  The LPA conference in Detroit was a huge success.  Amy and I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends we have known for years and Zach got to catch up with some of his LP buds that he knows from past conferences.  The entire family enjoyed making new friends and checking out all the activities offered at the conference.

After that, we were off to America’s heartland to steam our way up the Mississippi on The American Queen Riverboat.  I have always been fascinated with Tom Sawyer, and it was incredible to be in the midst of Mark Twain’s homeland with the chance to have my own river adventure.  History really came alive for the kids as they were able to visit many of the places they had previously only read about in US history classes.  But if there was anyone who really took to the area, it’s Amy.  She has always been fascinated by the American South-the food, the music, the rich cultural history-she loved it all, and is already planning a return trip!  Both Amy and I have always been drawn to small-town America and really enjoyed connecting and talking to people from all walks of life.

Here on the farm, we’re already busy preparing for pumpkin season and managing the Roloff Farms Online Store.  Shoproloff.com has really taken off–our t-shirts are just flying off the shelves.  Thank you to everyone who has ordered!  If you haven’t checked out our online store yet, we invite you to take a peek!

We’ll wrap things up with a few odds and ends:

• It has come to our attention that a petition has been started with the hopes of getting the Roloff family on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  The petition was started by Kim and Alessandra, two great, enthusiastic young women who are committed to increasing awareness about the LP community.  Click here to help them out!

• Recently, we’ve also received many emails recently wondering about the status of the show.  Don’t worry!-”Little People, Big World” will be back for another season with new episodes this fall.

Please accept a final note of thanks, and we hope your Independence Day was filled with fireworks and fun for you, your family and friends.

Safe summer wishes,

Matt, Amy, Zach, Jeremy, Molly, and Jacob

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matt June 16th, 2008

For all the guys who took photos of Matt, please email them to Military@mattroloff.com so I can post them on the site.

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Kaitlin June 13th, 2008

Hi friends,

We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the condolences and kind letters we’ve received since Mike’s sudden passing.  Your support has been incredible and much needed as we adjust to days in the office without our friend and coworker.  We’re in the process of gathering your messages to give to Mike’s family.  I know they will be as touched as we have been.  Thank you.

Also, Matt has been traveling over the past week on a very exciting trip that you will hear more about in the months to come.  We know many of you who have spent time with Matt this week have pictures you would like to share with us.  If any military personnel have pictures with Matt from this past week, please send them to photoswithmatt@gmail.com.  We will be using these pictures to honor our military and the work they are doing at home and abroad.

Thanks again, and have a great weekend, everyone!

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matt June 5th, 2008

Friends,
 
Yesterday afternoon, as I finished up the summer newsletter and set it to be sent out this morning, I had no idea I would be announcing such tragic news several hours later.
 
It is with the deepest sadness and devastation that we must inform our friends and fans of the passing of our extended family member, Mike Detjen.
 
For the past eight years Mike has been a business partner, brother, coach, friend, and confidant.  He was truly like an uncle to our kids.    
 
It was with complete and sudden surprise last evening when Mike was rushed to the hospital from his soccer club board meeting.  At the time, it was believed he was having a heart attack.
 
Amy and all our kids rushed to the hospital to be by his side.   Coherent and alert, Mike was rushed into emergency surgery for a torn aorta.
 
An aortic dissection is very serious, but the prognosis was that they would be able to repair the rupture in the 5+ hour operation.
 
Unfortunately, Mike did not make it through the procedure. 
 
Mike passed with many loved ones and friends that cared deeply for him.  We especially extend our condolences to Mike’s family.   Our kids are all devastated and beside themselves with grief.  We will miss Mike dearly as a friend and loved one.
 
We celebrate Mike’s life as one of compassion and service to those he cared about.  He was the driving force behind the area soccer club.  He dedicated countless hours and his personal resources to his love of soccer and the local kids that enjoyed it.  Mike not only taught my kids to play but how to love the game and practice good sportsmanship as well.
 
Mike was a deeply faithful man, and though we mourn his loss, we take solace in the knowledge that he has gone to his heavenly home.
 
Condolences may be sent to kaitlin@mattroloff.com.  We will be gathering the responses to give to Mike’s sons, Tim and Jason Detjen.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the organization Mike was the most passionate about, the Hillsboro Soccer Club.
 
Hillsboro Soccer Club
2074 NW Alocleck Dr., Suite 415
Hillsboro, OR 97124
 
We are in the process of setting up a donation fund through PayPal.  You should be able to give online through our website in the next couple of days.

Thank you for sharing our grief and sorrow in this time of earthly heartache.
 
Sincerely,
Matt, Amy, Zach, Jeremy, Molly, and Jacob

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Kaitlin June 2nd, 2008

Little People, Big World: Lost Episodes
The Boys of Summer

Along with their friends, twins Zach and Jeremy keep getting distracted as they struggle to complete their Swamp Fort - the project ultimately leads to an all-out paintball attack on the fort.Meanwhile, Matt installs an athletic court on the farm.

Little People, Big World: Lost Episodes
My Life as a Dog

Although he’s often wimpy, needy and smelly, the Roloffs’ bull mastiff dog Rocky is a much-loved member of the family. The Roloffs in turn each share special moments with Rocky - and they all rally together with concern when he’s injured.

Talk it up with other fans here.

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